Plan your Yinchuan tour? Ningxia’s capital city of Yinchuan is often your springboard to start your exploration into the scenic province. Yichuan itself is also worth your 2-3 day trip. The top 10 attractions list below may help you plan your short trip to Yinchuan.
No. 01: West Xia Imperial Tombs （西夏王陵）
Located on the eastern slopes of the Helan Mountains, about 35 kilometers west of the city of Yincuan, the West Xia Imperial Tombs covers an area of about 50 square kilometers.
According to records, the tombs were patterned after Song Tombs in Gongxian County, Henan Province. Like other imperial tombs, Western Xia mausoleums were composed of two architectural units, the mausoleum gardens above ground and underground palaces. At present, only two tombs are open to the public, of which the mausoleum of Emperor Hao is the most prominent.
Entrance Fee: CNY 40
Opening Hours: 08:00-19:00 (Wu Imperial Tomb); 08:00-21:00 (Museum and Art Museum)
How to get there: take Buses No. 1, 2, 4 or 18 to the Train Station, and then rent a car to the West Xia Imperial Tombs
No. 02: Western Film Studio (西部影视城)
Located at Zhenbeibu, the northwest of Yinchuan Zhenbeibu China West Film Studio is one of the three biggest film studios in China and the most famous film studio in western China.
The West Film Studio was set up by famous Chinese writer Zhang Xianliang in 1992. More than eighty movies have been filmed in this film studio. There is a special service for visitors. If you want to be a part of your favorite movie, the film studio can make it come true. With its complete facilities, they can make a short video for you. It will be a fantastic experience.
Entrance Fee: CNY 100
Opening Hours:
How to get there: the minibus from Wenzhou Shangcheng to Huaxicun will take you to the Western Film Studio
No. 03: Sand Lake Scenic Resort （沙湖）
Sand Lake, located in Pingluo County of the Ningxia Autonomous Region, is one of the most exciting lakes to visit in China. The Sand Lake is about 80 square kilometers with reaching 45 square kilometers of water surface and 22.52 square kilometers of desert surface.
In possession of nearly 10,000mu water areas, 5,000mu sandbanks, 2,000mu bulrush, 1,000mu lotus root ponds, Shahu Lake district is abundant in fishes and fowls. Every year during spring and autumn, over one million migratory birds stop at Sand Lake. It is a paradise for the birdwatcher as well as a great variety of birds, including white cranes, swans, wild ducks and mandarin ducks.
Entrance Fee: CNY 60 (peak seasons); CNY 40 (low seasons)
Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00
How to get there: get a bus from Yinchuan Beimen Tour Bus Station to thr Sand Lake Scenic Area
No. 04: Chengtiansi Pagoda （承天寺塔）
Chengtiansi Pagoda, also known as the Western Pagoda in the Chengtian Temple, is situated in the southwest of Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
The pagoda was first built in 1050 during the Song Dynasty.
The pagoda underwent repeated repairs in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was originally built in 1050 with a height of 64.5 meters, 13-story structure and octagon in shape, and a flight of wooden stairs reach to the 11 floors. Chengtiansi Pagoda has been well preserved and become one of key protected cultural relic sites.
Entrance Fee: CNY 5
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
How to get there: take Bus No .2 from Nanmen
No. 05: Haibao Pagoda （海宝塔）
Located about 1.5 kilometers northwest of downtown Yinchuan in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Haibao Pagoda Temple is one of the major Buddhist temples opened to public in China.
A 53.9-metre-high 11-floor pavilion like brick structure with a history of 1,500 years, HaibaoPagoda is the city emblem of Yinchuan. Haibao Pagoda is a pavilion-style pagoda, with nine tiers and eleven flights of stairs. A wooden stairway inside the pagoda conducts to the 9th floor for a look at the city’s landscape. The Haibao Pagoda Temple has become an important scenic spot with its entirely new appearance.
Entrance Fee: CNY 10
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take a taxi to Haibao Pagoda from downtown area
No. 06: Jade Emperor Pavilion
Situated at the crossroads of Jiefang Road and Yuhuangge Street in Yinchuan, the Jade Emperor pavilion, with its history of more than 600 years, was built originally during the Ming Dynasty.
The Jade Emperor Pavilion was built on a rectangular rammed-earth platform 37 meters long, 28.1 meters wide, and 8 meters high. This is the only remaining traditional wooden structure in Yinchuan and you are sure to be left with a deep impression.
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: the whole day
How to get there: take Bus No. 1 from the train station
Around the hillsides of the Helanshan, 40 km off the Yinchuan City, there are tens of thousands of rock carvings by ancient nomadic tribes, which are known as Helanshan Rock Carvings.
According to the textual research by specialists, these rock carvings can be dating back to 6000 years before the dynasties of Ming and Qing. Most of the Helanshan Rock Carvings are concentrated at Helankou Pass. The paintings were drawn in various styles with profound connotation and scattered only in certain areas. Helanshan Rock carvings have produced a great influence on the world.
Opening Hours: 08:00-16:00
How to get there: You can rent a car to Helan Shan Rock Carving from Zhengbeibao which will cost you 20 Yuan with half a hour journey.
No. 08: Nanguan Mosque
The Nanguan Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the Ningxia in North China, is located at the Yuhuang Pavilion South Street, Xingqing District, southeast of the Yinchuan city.
How to get there: take Buses No. 1, 2, 3, 11, 19, or 20 to Nanguan Mosque; or take a taxi to get there
No. 09: Suyukou National Forest Park （苏峪口国家森林公园）
The Suyukou National Forest Park is rich in natural scenery spots and has unique cultural landscape which covers an area of nearly 1,000,000 hectare.
Visitors can enjoy the rich culture of the park, such as Religious culture, Western Xia culture, and rock carvings culture. Every slope has a name, every turning has a legend and every mountain has a story.Entrance Fee: CNY 60
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
How to get there: You can rent a car form Zhenbeibao which will cost you about 60 RMB
No. 10: Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum
The Museum of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, located at the Chengtian Buddhist Temple in Yinchuan City, is a comprehensive historical museum of provincial level in China.
The Museum has collected over 10,000 cultural relics, of which 45 are Class One collection, among which are the ink-stick unearthed from a Han tomb at Guyuan County of Ningxia, the gold-plated copper bull unearthed from a Western Xia (1038-1227) tomb, and a silk banner presented to the leader of the Hui nationality by the Red Army.
Entrance Fee: free
How to get there: take Buses No .2, 17, 20, 25, 31
Tip: Hassle-free Yinchuan Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Yinchuan Guided Tours:
Yinchuan One Day Excursion Tour from US$ 95 p/p
Yinchuan 3 Day Tour from US$ 235 p/p
Yinchuan Car Rental with Driver
Further Readings
Top 10 Attractions in Yinchuan
How to Visit Yinchuan in 2 Days
Western Xia Imperial Tombs
Helan Mountain Rock Art
Great Wall at Shuidonggou
West Film Studio
Yinchuan Taxi
